Mustafa Kemal Atatrk (1881-1938)

ATATURK, FOUNDER OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC AND THE

FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
Mustafa Kemal Atatrk was born in a three-storey pink house at
Islahhane Street, Kocakasim District, Salonika in 1881. His
father was Ali Riza Efendi and mother was Zbeyde Hanim. His
paternal grand father Hafiz Efendi is a member of Kocacik
Nomads from Konya and Aydin region, which was settled in
Macedonia during 14th-15th centuries. His mother Zbeyde
Hanim, also a daughter of an old Turkish family, settled in the
town of Langasa near Salonika. Ali Riza Efendi who worked in
various areas such as; a military officer, a pious foundation
clerk and for some time a timber merchant and got married
with Zbeyde Hanim in 1871. Four of Atatrk's five siblings died
at an early age, only his sister Makbule Atadan survived and
lived until 1956.
Little Mustafa commenced his education in Hafiz Mehmet
Efendi's neighbourhood school, later he was transferred to
Semsi Efendi School, because his father wished so
(Comparatively modern education at the time.) During his
primary education, he lost his father in 1888. For a while he
stayed on his uncle's farm in Rapla, returned to Salonika and
completed his primary education. He enrolled to Salonika Junior
High School for Civil Servants. After a short time in 1893, he
transferred to Military Junior High School. It is at this school his
math teacher Mustafa Bey, added Kemal to his name in
between 1896-1899, Mustafa Kemal finished Monastir Military
Senior High School and commenced Military College in Istanbul.

In 1902 he graduated with the rank of lieutenant and continued

his education in Military Academy. In January 1905 he
completed the Academy and graduated with the rank of a
captain. His first appointment was in 5 Army in Damascus in
between 1905-1907. He was promoted to adjutant major in
1907 and appointed to 3 Army in Monastery. He was the Chief
of Staff of the Army Corps which entered Istanbul on 19 April
1909. He was sent to France in 1910 and took part in Picardie
Manoeuvres. In 1911 he was back in Istanbul and started to
work under the Command of General Staff.
Mustafa Kemal and a group of friends took part in Tobruk and
Derna Fronts during the war which started in 1911 against the
Italians who were attacking Tripoli (Libya). He won the Battle of
Tobruk against the Italian forces on 22 December 1911. He was
then appointed to Derna Front as the Commander-in-Chief on 6
March 1912.
When the Balkan War started in October 1912, Mustafa Kemal
joined the battle with units in Gelibolu (Gallipoli) and Bolayir. He
greatly contributed to the retrieval of Edirne and Dimetoka
(Dhidhimotikhon). In 1913 he was appointed to Sofia as the
military attache. During his assignment in Sofia he was
promoted to lieutenant-colonel. His duty as the military attache
ended in January 1915. During his stay in Sofia, the First World
War had started and the Ottoman Empire had become obliged
to enter in this war. Mustafa Kemal was appointed to Tekirdag to
organize the 19 Division.
It is in the First World War, which started in 1914, that Mustafa
Kemal wrote an heroic epic and made the legend of Dardanelles
are Impassable against Entente troops in Gallipoli. On 18 March
1915, when British and French navies failed to break in through

the Straits of Dardanelles with heavy losses, the decision to

land troops on the Gallipoli peninsula had been given. Under the
command of Mustafa Kemal, 19 Division halted the enemy
forces, which landed in Ariburnu -now called Anzak Koyu (Anzac
Cove)- on 25 April 1915 at Conkbayir. Mustafa Kemal was
promoted to full colonel after this great success. British forces
started attacking again from Ariburnu on 6-7 August 1915.
Anafartalar Group Commander Mustafa Kemal won the victory
of Battle of Anafartalar on 9-10 August. Following this, he also
won the victories of Battle of Kirectepe on 17 August and
Second Battle of Anafartalar on 21 August. The Turkish nation
defended her honour in Gallipoli (Battle of Canakkale) against
Entente States by losing approximately 253,000 of her sons to
martyrdom. Mustafa Kemal's famous order to his soldiers "I do
not order you to attack, I order you to die", had changed the
destiny of this Front.
In 1916 after Gallipoli, Mustafa Kemal took duties in Edirne and
in Diyarbakir. He was promoted to brigadier general in 1 April
1916. He took part in the battles against Russian forces by
which Mus and Bitlis were liberated. After short duties in
Damascus and Aleppo, he returned to Istanbul in 1917. He went
to Germany with Heir Apparent Prince Vahdeddin Efendi for
observations in the European Western Front. He became sick
after this trip and received treatment in Vienna and Carlsbad.
He returned to the Front on 15 August 1918 as the Commanderin-Chief of the 7 Army in Aleppo. At this front he achieved the
most successful defensive battles in history against the British
forces. He was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the
Lightning Army Group on 31 October 1918, just one day after
the signing of the truce in Moudros. After the abolishment of
this Army Group he was appointed for a duty in the Ministry of

War in Istanbul on 13 November 1918.

After the beginning of the occupation of the country and
demobilization of the Ottoman armies according to the Moudros
Truce, Mustafa Kemal arrived in Samsun on 19 May 1919 as the
Inspector General of the 9 Army. On 22 June 1919, he issued the
Amasya Circular, declaring that the nation's determination and
decision will restore the nation's independence and called for
the gathering of Congress in Erzurum and Sivas. Between 23
July and 7 August 1919 delegates from all over the country
gathered in Erzurum and then between 4 September and 11
September 1919 in Sivas, determining the path to follow in
order to gain nations independence. On 27 December 1919 he
was welcomed in Ankara with great enthusiasm. 23 April 1920,
the first day of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, was one of
the very important steps on the way to the founding of the
Turkish Republic. Mustafa Kemal was elected as the first
Speaker of the House and the Head of the Government. The
Turkish Grand National Assembly started preparing and passing
the new laws necessary for implementing the Independence
War successfully.
The Turkish Independence War was started when the first bullet
was fired against the enemy during the occupation of Izmir by
the Greek forces on 15 May 1919. Victors of the First World War,
by signing of the Sevres Agreement, started the occupation of
their shares of the Ottoman Empire. At the beginning,
resistance against occupation forces started with militia forces,
namely Kuva-i Milliye (National Forces). The Turkish Grand
National Assembly established the regular army and
successfully led the Independence War to victory by integrating
the militia forces into the regular army.

The important stages of the Independence War under the

leadership of Mustafa Kemal were,
Liberation of Sarikamis (20 September 1920), Kars (30
October 1920) and Gmr (7 November 1920).
Defences of Cukurova, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa and Kahraman
Maras (1919-1920).
Victory at the First Battle of Inn (6-10 January 1920)
Victory at the Second Battle of Inn (23 March-1 April 1920).
Victory at the Battle of Sakarya (23 August-13 September
1921).
Great Offensive, Battle of Dumlupinar (Battle of Commanderin-Chief) and the Great (Final) Victory (26 August-9 September
1922).
After the victory at the Battle of Sakarya, the Turkish Grand
National Assembly promoted Mustafa Kemal to the rank of Field
Marshal and granted him the title of Gazi-the Victorious Fighter.
The Independence War was ended by the Lausanne Peace
Treaty on 24 July 1923. Thus, all the impediments of the Sevres
Agreement had been removed and integrity of the Turkish land
had been accomplished by the signing of the Lausanne
Agreement. There were no obstructions left on the way to
establish the new Turkish State based on national solidarity.
Founding of the Turkish Republic had been heralded by the
opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 23 April

1920. National Assembly's successful administration during the

Independence War had secured the founding of the new Turkish
State. Caliphate and Sultanate (monarchy) separated and
Sultanate was abolished on 1 November 1922. Therefore, the
administrative ties with the Ottoman Empire were broken. The
declaration of Republic was made on 29 October 1923 and
Mustafa Kemal was unanimously elected as the first President of
the Republic. Ismet Inn formed the first government of the
Republic on 30 October 1923. Sovereignty unconditionally
belongs to Nation and Peace at home, peace in the world are
the raising fundamentals of the Turkish Republic.
Atatrk made many reforms in order to bring Turkey to the level
of contemporary civilizations. Those reforms can be put under
five main topics:
1. Political Reforms
- Abolishment of the Sultanate (1 November 1922)
- Declaration of the Republic (29 October 1923)
- Abolishment of Caliphate (3 March 1924)
2. Social Reforms
- Women were given equal rights with men (1926-1934)
- The Revolution of Headgear and Outfit (25 November 1925)
- Closing of dervish lodges and shrines (30 November 1925)
- The surname law (21 June 1934)
- Abolishment of nicknames, pious and royal titles (26
November 1934)
- Adoption of the International calendar, time and
measurements (1925-1931)

3. Juridical Reforms
- Abolishment of the Canon Law (1924-1937)
- Instating the new Turkish Civil Code and other legislation to
suit secular order (1924 - 1937)
4. Educational and Cultural Reforms
- Integration of education (3 March 1924)
- Adoption of the new Turkish alphabet (1 November 1928)
- Establishment of the Turkish Language and Historical Societies
(1931-1932)
- Organization of the university education (31 May 1933).
- Innovations in fine arts
5. Economical Reforms
- Abolishment of old taxation laws.
- Encouragement of the farmers.
- Establishment of model farms.
- Legislation of the Encouragement of the Industry Law and
establishment of Industrial Corporations.
- Implementing First and Second Development Plans (19331937), construction of new highways to reach every corner of
the country.
In accordance with the new surname law, Turkish Grand
National Assembly granted Mustafa Kemal with the surname
Atatrk on 24 November 1934.
Atatrk had been elected twice as the Speaker of the House
(National Assembly), on 24 April 1920 and 13 Augustus 1923.

His chairmanship at that time, was equal to the Head of State

and the Government combined. On 29 October 1923 Republic
was declared and Atatrk was elected as the first President of
the Republic. According to the Constitution Presidential
elections held for every four years. Atatrk had been re-elected
as the President of the Republic in 1927, 1931 and 1935 by the
Turkish Grand National Assembly.
Atatrk very frequently used to go for fact-finding trips in the
country. He kept in contact with local authorities and directed
them personally in every occasion. In the capacity of the
President of the Republic, he received the visiting foreign
presidents, premiers, ministers and commanders with great
respect and authority.
Atatrk gave his Great Speech on 15-20 October 1927 in which
he described the Independence War and Founding of Republic,
he then made his 10th Year Speech on 29 October 1933.
Atatrk was very modest in his private life. He married with
Latife Hanim on 29 January 1923. Together they had many trips
around the country. Their marriage lasted until 5 August 1925.
As a great lover of children, Atatrk adopted his daughters Afet
(Inan), Sabiha (Gkcen), Fikriye, lk, Nebile, Rukiye, Zehra and
his son Mustafa, a young shepherd boy. He also had two
children under his protection, Abdurrahim and Ihsan. He
secured a good life and future for these children who survived.
In 1937, he donated his farms to the State Treasury and some of
his real estate to Ankara and Bursa Municipality Councils. He
divided his inheritance among his sister, his adopted children
and the Turkish Language and Historical Societies. He enjoyed

reading, listening music, dancing, horse riding and swimming.

He was very much interested in the Western Anatolian folk
dance Zeybek, wrestling and listening to Rumelia songs. He had
great pleasure in playing black-gammon and billiards. He valued
very much his horse Sakarya and his dog Fox. He had made up
a very rich library of his own. He used to invite statesmen,
scholars and scientists to dinners and discuss state affairs with
them. He was very particular about his appearance and was
smartly dressed all the times. He was also a nature lover. He
very often used to visit his farm Atatrk Orman Ciftligi-Atatrk
Forest Farm and took part at works in person. Atatrk was
proficient in French and German.
On 10 November 1938 at 9.05 in the morning, in Istanbul,
Dolmabahce Palace, he died of the liver ailment he was
suffering from. He was buried with a ceremonial funeral in a
temporary place of rest at the Ethnographical Museum in
Ankara on 21 November 1938. After the building of Anitkabir
(Atatrk Mausoleum) he was taken to his permanent place of
rest with a grand
ceremony on 10
November 1953.